Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference to give an update from self isolation at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa to give an update on the government's response to COVID-19 outbreaks on Mar. 17, 2020. Andrew Meade/iPolitics

A day after unveiling his government’s latest bid to provide emergency aid to Canadian businesses reeling from pandemic-imposed revenue losses, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be ready to field a flurry of questions on exactly how the proposed financing program will work — and how much it’s expected to cost —when the SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC gathers for its first virtual session of the week this afternoon.

As per the official notice, the online meet-up — which is, of course, open to all sitting MPs, although not all of them will get the opportunity go off mute to address their colleagues — will get underway at noon and is expected to follow the now-standard programme for the biweekly get-together: An opening round of ministerial statements, if necessary, followed by a 95-minute question period.

He and his front bench team may also be asked about what Trudeau framed as an “initial” financial boost for Canadian farmers and food producers hit by the COVID-19 outbreak — a $252 million package that would include, among other measures, expanded access to loans via Farm Credit Canada, which will require parliamentary sign-off to proceed.

Yesterday, the speaker announced that the Commons will hold an emergency sitting on Wednesday afternoon to consider the requested legislative changes, which are expected to be adopted by the end of the day, although the government may have to offer concessions to their cross-aisle colleagues in order to get the necessary unanimous consent to fast track the bill.

Before taking his virtual seat in front of the special committee, Trudeau will deliver his daily on-camera update on the pandemic from outside Rideau Cottage. (11 AM)

Also making the rounds in the precinct today: Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, who will join his party’s fisheries and tourism critics, Marilene Gill and Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, for a mid-afternoon media availability in the West Block press theatre. (3:30 PM)

UPDATE: In what may or may not be a pre-emptive bid to ensure that the Bloc Quebecois backs the government’s next COVID-19 emergency aid package, Seniors Minister Deb Schulte teams up with Treasury Board president Jean-Yves Duclos to share the details of new support measures aimed at seniors. (10 AM)

ON THE VIRTUAL COMMITTEE CIRCUIT

Team Trudeau’s proposed aid to Canada’s agri-food sector will likely dominate the discussion at the AGRICULTURE committee, which will kick off a two-hour session with a virtual appearance by Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, who will be accompanied by her associate deputy minister, Annette Gibbons, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency vice-president Colleen Barnes. Also on the witness list: The Canadian Pork Council, National Cattle Feeders’ Association and the Union des producteurs agricoles. (5 – 7 PM)

Over at FINANCE, MPs will get a status update on the government’s COVID-19 spending record to date, courtesy of Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux and interim Auditor General Sylvain Ricard, both of whom have been tasked by the House to keep an eye on expenditures during the current Commons hiatus. (3 – 6:30 PM)

The Senate NATIONAL FINANCE committee is also set to meet via webcam this afternoon to go over the fine print of the two COVID-19 omnibus bills introduced by the government since the start of the pandemic — both of which, it’s worth noting, have already been signed into law — with senior finance officials. (2:30 PM)

Finally, PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS members continue to work on a report to their colleagues on ensuring MPs can continue to carry out their parliamentary duties during the current shutdown, which is due to be submitted no later than Friday. (11 AM)

Due to the ongoing parliamentary shutdown, most House and Senate committee meetings are suspended until regular sittings resume.